So Long Poly

[Willem]

After various trials and tribulations lately, the latest being informed that my mother is dying, I've decided that it's time to move on. I'm going to be packing in my life here in Ontario, Canada and moving back to Victoria, BC, a place that has always had a special feeling in my heart. My soul has been badly bruised lately, and I think being there will help me heal it again. At least I hope so.

So by the end of May, I'll have sold or given away almost everything I own, including my computer, and be winging my way out west in search of a new life. I thought I'd say goodbye in advance since I've really come to enjoy hanging out here, and I'll probably miss the place. But since I'll basically be starting from scratch, it might be awhile before I can afford to buy a new computer and get back online again. Which means that most of you that I've come to know here probably won't be around then.

I've made an ass of myself at times, and sometimes got rather petulant with some of the posters here, but for the most part, sharing my thoughts, feelings and opinions have been a good experience. There's a fair number of intelligent, well-informed people that hang out here; though I don't always agree with their views, and I thought I'd take the time to thank you all for the sometimes lively and usually informative debates I've found myself in while I've been hanging out here. And for the thoughts and opinions I've encountered when I was just lurking.

Unfortunately, the list is to long to name you all personally, and I'd be sure to forget a few people if I even tried to. So I'll have to settle for a generic "Have a good life and take care of yourself in case I don't connect with you again."

[Ted Striker]

Good luck bro.

[Willem]

Thanks, I'll probably need it. It's been quite awhile since I've just chucked everything and tried again, I'm rather nervous about the idea. But I really think it's the best thing I can do for myself right now. I need to get rid of all the cobwebs that have been accumulating in the closet of my soul the last few years.

[orange]

Good luck in the future. If it's any comfort, I envy the fact that you'll be in such a beautiful area, getting away from it all. May be more of a blessing than you think. Drop us a line sometime to let us know how you are.

[TCO]

Sounds like a soulful journey. Good luck. I hope they're not still mad at my submarine in Esquimalt. We caused an international incident. Yes.

[Jaguar]

Good luck. You'll be missed.

[Willem]

Originally posted by orange
Good luck in the future.

Thanks, I just hope I'm not making yet another foolish mistake. I don't think so.

If it's any comfort, I envy the fact that you'll be in such a beautiful area, getting away from it all. May be more of a blessing than you think.

Well that's kind of the point of heading out there.

At the moment, I really need to be reminded that life is a beautiful and wonderous thing. And that's a pretty good place to rediscover those emotions.

Drop us a line sometime to let us know how you are.

Again thanks, I'll see what I can do.

[Willem]

Originally posted by GP
Sounds like a soulful journey.

Yes it will be. I seem to have lost sight of myself lately. I think part of me is still sitting on a beach out there listening to the waves roll in and out.

Good luck. I hope they're not still mad at my submarine in Esquimalt. We caused an international incident. Yes.

Huh? But don't worry, people in Victoria are a pretty forgiving bunch.

[Willem]

Originally posted by Jaguar Warrior
Good luck. You'll be missed.

I'll be around for a little while yet, I won't be leaving until the end of May. But I have to leave on Tuesday to help my sister deal with my mother's impending funeral, so I probably won't be posting very much. So I just figured I may as well say goodbye now before I become a quivering mass of emotions afterwards.

[Agathon]

Take care man. My Dad died after a long illness last year, so I have some idea of what you are going through. Sometimes it probably won't seem quite real, at other times a bit too real. Don't be afraid to ask people for help if you need it - you can get to understand just how good people can be at times like this.

[Frankychan]

Good luck, Willem. Take names and kick a**!

[Tingkai]

Sorry to hear about your mother and the other stuff happening in your life.

You're right about Victoria being a good place to heal. there's a lot of good place to hang out and think about the world. Saxe Point is great, especially on the days when the rain stops and the sun comes out above the ocean. Or just sitting outside Benny's Bagels on a summer day.

And the music scene was always good, a great tonic to pick up the soul.

Don't be a stranger. There must be some place where you can log on for a while and pay us a visit.

Good luck with everything.

[Willem]

Originally posted by Agathon
Take care man. My Dad died after a long illness last year, so I have some idea of what you are going through. Sometimes it probably won't seem quite real, at other times a bit too real. Don't be afraid to ask people for help if you need it - you can get to understand just how good people can be at times like this.

Yes, my Dad died last summer as well, on my birthday of all days, so I kind of know what I'm getting into. It's going to be a bit easier with my mother since she's been essentialy brain dead for awhile now, due to Alzheimers. Her body is just catching up to her brain.

Still, I'm sure emotions will be running rampant the next week or so. Hell they already are. I was wailing like a wounded animal today after getting off the phone with my sister. It's certainly the last thing I needed in my life at the moment, with all the other crap that's been happening lately.

Hopefully things won't drag out waiting for her to pass away. The nurses at the home she's in don't give her any more than a week though, according to my sister.

[Lancer]

Willem, tuck this place in the back of your mind for future reference.

I once sold everything, bought a pick up and drove from Jersey to Oregon. I'd never been to Oregon or more than a few miles west of Jersey. It worked out very well, changing my entire life.

Happy trails guy.

[Gatekeeper]

Willem:

"Wheresoever you go, go with all your heart." — Confucius.

Gatekeeper